Sources said Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselaer) may slash Paterson’s personal staff allocation, cut the staffs of other Democratic senators, and eliminate several other “accommodations” – such as cars and favorite offices – given to Democratic lawmakers in recent years.

The sources said Bruno wants to send the Harlem-based Paterson – who ousted longtime Minority Leader Martin Connor of Brooklyn last week – a message that his “cocky and arrogant” style will be met head on.

“David could not have defeated Connor without Al Sharpton’s backing and we think that, as a result, he’s going to have to be more militant and, possibly, more racial,” said a source close to Bruno. “There’s a feeling that Sharpton is going to be a continuing presence in Paterson’s conference, and that that won’t be good.

“That’s not going to be good for anybody, and frankly the Democrats are going to be losers from it when all is said and done.

“You can’t be abusive and then come in and say you need this or that or some other kind of special help.”

The insiders said Bruno has already refused several requests for special aid from Paterson and has been “too busy” to hold an extended sit-down meeting with him. Bruno himself refused to discuss his relations with Paterson.

Paterson, the first African-American to head a state legislative conference, defeated Connor partly on a pledge to aggressively challenge Bruno and the Senate GOP, which outnumbers Democrats, 37-25.

Paterson also vowed to consider shaking up the state’s dysfunctional budget-making process by insisting he be included in the secret, closed-door budget meetings held by Bruno, Gov. Pataki and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan.)

Senate Democrats believe they may also have the upper hand next year because Bruno won’t have enough Republican votes to pass some of the tax hikes that they expect Pataki to seek to close a looming state budget deficit.